Riyadh, January 30 - Saudi Arabia and Iran are working together to try to calm the crises in Iraq and Lebanon, the Saudi foreign minister said Tuesday, despite Washington's efforts to isolate Tehran and limit its influence in the Middle East. The mediation is an unusual step by two rivals, Saudi Arabia and Iran, that compete for regional influence.

(Picture left - Shiite men listen to a cleric retelling the story of the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's founding Prophet Mohamed, at a Shiite community center in Manama, Bahrain, on Monday, Jan. 29, 2007. Many Shiites from eastern Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the mostly Sunni Arab Gulf visit Bahrain, the only Shiite-majority country outside Iran and Iraq, for colorful, mournful events marking Ashura that virtually shut down the island. AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

President Bush has rejected calls that the United States win Iran's help in easing Iraq's bloodshed and resolve the political crisis in Lebanon that erupted into violence last week. Instead, he has vowed to break what he called Iranian support for militants in both countries.

Saudi Arabia's willingness to work with Iran likely indicates the growing alarm in the kingdom's leadership over the two simultaneous crises, which have inflamed Sunni-Shiite tensions throughout the Middle East.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia has given tepid support to a new U.S. strategy in Iraq but has expressed skepticism over whether it will succeed. Besides sending 21,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq, the new strategy takes a tougher stance on Iran.

Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal of largely Sunni Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that Iran had apprached his country to "cooperate in averting strife between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq and Lebanon."

"Saudi Arabia wants only peace in the region," al-Faisal said.

A Saudi envoy is in Iran, which is majority Shiite, studying all the efforts being exerted to calm the situation and defuse the crises in Iraq and Lebanon" and "exploring what Iran can contribute," he said.

The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah — which Iran is believed to support with money and weapons — has been waging a campaign of street protests for the past two months in an attempt to bring down the Western-backed government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Last week, the protests erupted into clashes between supporters of the two sides that raised fears in Lebanon and across the Middle East that the country could explode into a sectarian civil war between its Shiites and Sunnis.

Saudi Arabia has close ties to Sunni politicians in the government's ruling coalition and has strongly backed Saniora.

Hezbollah has demanded a new national unity government that would give it and its allies more than a third of the Cabinet seats, enabling them to veto major decisions. Weeks of talks between the government and opposition have stalemated.

In Iraq, Iran is believed to back Shiite militias that have been blamed in killings of Sunni Arabs and it has close ties to Shiite parties that dominate the government. Saudi Arabia has strong tribal links to Iraq's Sunni Arab minority. AP

Citing the high-profile campaign and enormous Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery used for 13 days from nomination to polling, he also said it was inconceivable that the BN candidate's campaign expenses was capped at RM100,000, as stipulated in the Election Offences Act.

"The by-election clearly demonstrated the lack of proper controls of campaign opportunities and use of resources," Wong, who has taken part in a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia election project and is co-editing a book on the 2004 general election, said in an interview.

He is also reading his PhD at EssexUniversity on electoral system and its impact on party system in West Malaysia from 1982 to 2004.

"The election can be likened to an interview by the Batu Talam people to choose the candidate they want to represent them at the state assembly," Wong said.

"One candidate used his state and federal bosses to help him distort the judgment of voters. This is unfair."

He said that when extra resources were poured into a constituency because of an election, other constituencies would lose out since the decision was politically-motivated and not economically-rational.

"Promises of development funding during the campaign period should be made illegal," Wong said.

On Jan 26, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) also called on the Election Commission (EC) to investigate Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin for exerting "undue influence" for his comments after announcing that 2,113 members from seven Batu Talam cooperatives had pledged to vote in the by-election.

Khaled was reported on Jan 23 as saying there was a need for "strong rapport between the government and the cooperatives" to ensure all plans were carried out smoothly.

Wong said it was also impossible to ascertain exactly how much BN candidate Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram, who thrashed independent candidate Ng Chee Pang, spent on his campaign.

"The law does not have a proper mechanism to monitor total expenses," he noted, explaining that "donated monies" and "volunteer work" are often used to deflate how much was exactly spent. Party expenses are also not accounted for, he added.

He noted that the BN candidate could not spend more than RM7,700 a day over the 13 days of campaigning (including polling day) if he was to be within the law.

"But the nomination itself saw 2,000 supporters and hundreds of cars. Could the BN mobilisation itself cost less than RM100,000 or RM50 per head?" he asked.

Wong said the EC has not responded to calls to revise the law so that all expenses, including donations, be accounted for.

On another matter, he said it was misleading for the BN to use its increased majority (from 2,761 votes in the 2004 elections to 5,857 votes in this election), to argue that there was increased confidence and support for the ruling coalition (see chart).

"The majority figure represents the difference in votes between the winner and the runner-up. If votes are split or some people choose not to vote, then the majority will tend to be larger," he said.

Wong noted that a more accurate figure to look at was the number of votes the BN actually garnered this year compared to 2004, which increased by 862 votes.

Of the estimated 2,234 PAS supporters in 2004 who did not support the independent candidate this time, 1,225 (or 54.83%) who did not turn up possibly boycotted the by-election while 862 or 38.59% turned to the BN.

"Only 40% of PAS supporters turned to the BN despite the coalition's huge election machinery and the under-preparation of the frivolous, independent candidate," Wong said.

He conceded that the lower voter turnout could be because of the smaller electoral roll for the constituency and the fact that BN supporters did not come out to vote because they were confident of BN's victory.

"But, in the 2004 elections, it was also a clear win for the BN and yet, more voters turned up," he said, noting that the boycott had had a moderate impact with up to 1,225 voters potentially not turning up in support of it.

Wong said the BN could only declare it had increased support if the constituency was a marginal seat and not a BN stronghold, and if its opponent was not a frivolous one like Ng. Sun2Surf

Kavkav, January 30 - The Turkish commander Abdullah who is at war in Chechnya, addressing to Turkish Muslims has told: "We wish to be sure, that you have not forgotten us".

In the appeal of commander Abdullah is told:

"We always were, is and we shall be on the side of Chechen people, which is suffering under oppression of Russian invaders. During this struggle many of us, as well as among our Chechen brothers, became Shaheeds (Insha'Allah). More recently amir Abu Hafs was lost, andnow he receives destiny at his Lord. However, despite of heavy losses, despite of the spilled blood and the suffered victims, our peoples continue this sacred struggle.

We learned much on an example of our amirs, who became Shaheeds (Insha'Allah), such as Abdul-Halim, Hattab, Shamil, Abu Walid and Abu Hafs. They always wished to become Shaheed on the Path of Allah and doubtless have given lives on His Path. Our commanders always set us a good example in this. For liberation from occupation we should work hardly, and experiencing difficulties we always should hope to the Help of Allah. For us is more better to be lost on this way, than to live under oppression. Who becomes Shahid on this way, he will be saved by Allah. And let continue Jihad, which outcome are or a victory by the Mercy of Allah, or death ofmartyr, let it will be prolonged! Remember, that Allah prescribed to us: "do not despair and do not lose courage, if you truly believed and the victory will come..."

Oh, Muslims, we continue Jihad. Under leadership of our leader Dokka Umarov and together with our commanders we are ready to accept the death of Shahid or to reach a victory. We are assured, that you are on our side and we transfer salam to you.

Brothers! Under direction of Amir Abu Anas we experience very active winter battling on the East Front of CRI. Though Russian army traditionally loves winter months, during this season we managed to cause to it the big loss.

Our commanders Abu Anas, Yasir, Osman, and others by the Mercy of Allah prepare to invaders unexpected surprises.Insha'Allah, soon we shall please you with good news.

We are grateful to Turkish Muslims and Muslims of all world for their prays and good wishes for us. May Allah will reward you for this! On other fronts of Caucasus our brothers mojaheds too battle not sparing themselves, many became Shaheeds, as well as the members of their families stirred up by invaders. These victims are unforgotten for us.

I hope that this news will reach you soon. Once again I transfer salam to you and I askAllah about granting to you and us His blessing and a fast victory.

PETALING JAYA, Jan 29, 2007 - As the Barisan Nasional basks in its victory in the Batu Talam state by-election, Opposition parties dismiss it and say their boycott of the poll has had some impact, gauging from the voter turnout.

It is an endorsement on the continued leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said Umno information chief Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

"It shows an increased confidence in the leadership of Pak Lah," he added.

Muhammad said the good performance by the BN was a positive mid-term review of the government by the electorate, since the general elections in March 2004.

He said the victory was even more meaningful considering the move by PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat to boycott the by-election.

"It was a big blow to them as many came out to vote," he told theSun, adding that the 67.3% voter turnout was comparatively good and in the same league as the turnout for other by-elections in the past.

Muhammad said in any by-election, the voter turnout was usually low because the voters knew that no matter who they voted, they would not be able to change the current government.

Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is also Gerakan deputy president, said the non-Malay voters, the majority of whom hailed from Kampung Cheroh, had voted for the BN.

He said the results reflected the voters' support for the BN and prime minister.

"About 80% of the Chinese and Indian voters from Kampung Cheroh voted for the BN this time compared with 72% in the 2004 general election.

"This is very encouraging for the BN in the midst of allegations of decline in support for the BN. Non-Malay voters gave their support to the BN even though there were many economic and political issues which hogged the limelight recently.

"The said Opposition 'boycott' also failed to lure more support for the independent candidate from the Chinese and Indian voters, thanks to the effortless campaigning by component parties," Koh said.

Koh was speaking to reporters after launching the Penang Skills Development Centre SME business-coaching programme.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar said despite the BN victory, the opposition party was still claiming a moral victory of sorts.

He said this was because the voter turnout was comparatively lower than that in past by-elections and general elections.

He added that PAS was still a force to be reckoned with and the only worthy opponent in the Batu Talam constituency.

"The fact is that many voted out of obligation and duty. Not going to vote was akin to breaking the law and the norm to these rural folks," he said.

Kamaruddin said the opposition party would participate in the next general elections provided the electoral conditions improved.

Keadilan information chief Tian Chua said the BN did not face a worthy opponent in the by-election.

"They won without a contest," he said.

Chua also said that a check by the party showed that the voters were not enthusiastic about casting the ballot but merely voted out of duty.

"They already knew who was going to win," he said.

Chua added that the fact that the independent candidate even got 419 votes showed that there were protest votes against the ruling coalition. "In the end, all they (BN) had was hollow victory," he said. Sun2Surf

SEPANG, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday the huge victory for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Batu Talam by-election showed that the people realise the importance of elections and the power of the vote.

The BN retained the seat in Pahang with a bigger majority than in the general election in 2004 despite the declared boycott of the by-election by the opposition parties and their attempt to dissuade voters from going to the polls, he said.

"The wise voters understand the meaning of elections for them. They (the people) wanted to show that of importance to them was to elect a representative from among them," he told reporters at the KL International Airport upon his return from London after having attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram, 47, of the BN garnered 6,276 votes to beat independent candidate Ng Chee Pang, 22, by a majority of 5,857 votes in the by-election yesterday. Ng only received 419 votes and lost his deposit.

Former assemblyman Datuk Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan, who died last month, had beaten a PAS candidate in the general election in 2004 by a majority of 2,761 votes.

Abdullah said the BN's victory in Batu Talam has proven once again that the process of democracy is still vibrant in the country and all the allegations of the opposition have been proven wrong.

He said the opposition parties boycotted the by-election because they feared fielding a candidate.

"They, in fact, wanted to test our (BN's) strength, to ascertain how much the people supported us," he said.

However, Abdullah said, the people were mature enough to understand the deception of the opposition, and gave the BN a bigger win.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Abdul Aziz were at the Bunga Raya Complex of the airport to welcome the prime minister. Abdullah congratulated Abdul Aziz on his victory.

SEPANG, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Monday denied news reports that he had bought an executive jet, and explained that the government had only leased the aircraft from Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad.

The prime minister pointed out that the plane was not for his use alone.

"The jet is for use of the government, not the prime minister (only)," he told a news conference at the KL International Airport upon his return from London after having attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Elaborating, Abdullah said: "The aircraft belongs to Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad; it was (bought with) their money. We just leased it like how MAS (Malaysia Airlines) leases aircraft from them."

Websites had reported that Abdullah had bought an ACJ 319 VIP jet from Airbus at a cost of between US$55 million and US$60 million.

The websites claimed, among other things, that the aircraft based on the A320 model was undergoing internal refurbishing in Switzerland.

Explaining the rationale for leasing the aircraft, Abdullah said leasing enabled the government to save cost.

"Why do we (the government) have to buy aircraft? If we buy, we have to undertake repairs and expend on many other things.

"If is preferable to lease, and when there are repairs to be made, the lessor has to provide a replacement aircraft for our use," he said.

Abdullah pointed out that Penerbangan Malaysia stood to gain from the lease, just as it earned from the lease of aircraft to MAS.

AlJazeera, January 29 - Suicide bomber has killed three people in Israel's southern resort town of Eilat, emergency services say.

The bomber blew himself up on Monday, killing three other people and wounding more, in a cafe-bakery in the Red Sea holiday town near the Jordanian and Egyptian borders.

Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the police, said: "Three people and the bomber were killed."

A police officer in Eilat said on army radio: "This was a suicide bombing and the bomber is one of the dead. He apparently entered with a bag or an explosives belt and blew himself up inside the shop."

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, said: "We will study this incident ... and we will draw the conclusions in order to direct our security officials to continue their battle without respite against the terrorists and their commanders."

Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's Jerusalem correspondent, said: "Israel as a whole has been put on a high state of alert now."

Bruno Stein, Eilat's police commander, said the police believe there could be more bombers in the town.

He said: "Our assumption is that it's not one bomber, and there might be more bombers in Eilat right now."

Claims of responsibility

Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and a previously unknown group calling itself the Army of Believers each said they carried out the attack.

Khaled al-Batsh, a senior Islamic Jihad leader, said the attack was "a natural response to the continued crimes by the Zionist enemy".

In a phone call to AFP offices in Gaza, the spokesmen named the suicide bomber as Mohammed Faisal al-Siksek, a twenty-one-year-old from the Al-Shujaiyah neighbourhood of GazaCity. The group had earlier said that he was from the West Bank.

The Jihad spokesman said al-Siksek belonged to the Islamist group but neither organisation specified how the bomber had managed to get from the Gaza Strip to Eilat, access to which is strictly controlled by Israel.

Islamic Jihad is not one of the Palestinian actors subject to a Gaza ceasefire agreed upon in November between Israel and some Palestinian groups.

The group has demanded that any truce also cover the occupied West Bank.

New offshoot

Nour Odeh, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said: "Eyes are mainly looking towards the Islamic Jihad and a new offshoot of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

"Senior Islamic Jihad movement figures have been killed or detained in the past few weeks, and so Islamic Jihad in particular has threatened [a] response.

"[Palestinians] are expecting reprisals from Israel. So far we know that a ceasefire of sorts has been in place in the Gaza Strip between Palestinians and Israelis ... As for the West Bank, no such ceasefire exists.

"Some Palestinian groups may say that if the attacker came from the West Bank he would have been under no obligation to observe a ceasefire. Reprisals may come in Gaza, in the form of targeted assassinations [against Palestinian activists]."

Ismail Radwan, a Hamas spokesman, said the attack was a "natural response to the occupier's crimes against our people", although Hamas itself, which formed a Palestinian government last March, has not claimed a suicide bombing within Israel for nearly two years.

The attack is the first suicide bombing in Israel since last April when a suicide bomber killed 10 people in Tel Aviv.Al Jazeera and Agencies

alJazeera.net, January 29 - Palestinian factions have clashed again in Gaza despite agreeing to participate in Saudi-mediated talks to end the worst bout of internecine violence in a year.

Thirty people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded in four days of fighting.

Gun battles between Hamas and Fatah raged throughout the night across the territory, where threepeople were killed in the southern town of Khan Younis and two othersin GazaCity, medics said.

The unprecedented violence, the worst since Hamas's shock election win a year ago, has scuttled intermittent talks on forming a national unity government and left the Gaza Stripteetering on the brink of civil war.

"I invite my brothers of the Palestinian people, represented by their leaders ... to a quick meeting in their brotherly homeland Saudi Arabia ... to discuss their differences without anyintervention from outside parties," he said in an appeal carried by the state news agency SPA.

Khaled Meshaal, the ruling Hamas movement's political chief, and Mahmud Abbas, the Fatah party leader and Palestinian president, both welcomed the offer, though no date for the meeting has yet been announced.

Several previous efforts to end the feuding, including a rare meeting between Meshaal and Abbas in Damascus, have proved fruitless.

Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister who belongs to Hamas, on Sunday urged an end to the conflict, which spilled over into the occupied West Bank.

"We call on all the Palestinian people to protect national unity, to make the language of dialogue and reason prevail, to withdraw weapons from the streets, and put an end to the tensions," he said.

Nablus abductions

But the killings and tit-for-tat abductions have continued in both the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

An explosion early on Sunday morning rocked the GazaCity home of a bodyguard of Mohammed Dahlan, a powerful Fatah commander. No casualties were reported.

Anti-tank rockets and mortar shells were also fired at Fatah's police headquarters.

Also on Sunday, Fatah supporters, many of them masked, set ablaze theNablus offices of the Hamas-controlled education ministry andabducted 11 Hamas members.

Hamas fighters in turn seized Shabn Abu Assar, the chief of the Palestinian security forces for Gaza, but released him after two hours.

Among the victims were an 11-year-old boy caught in thecrossfire on Saturday night and a two-year-old child killed by a straybullet during a firefight in Khan Younis on Friday.

Roadblocks set up

Throughout Gaza, the warring factions have set up roadblocks andcontinue to trade bursts of machinegun fire, and anti-rocket and mortar shells.

The territory has become deserted, with shopkeepers boarding up shops and staying in the relative safety of their homes.

Hamas has called on Abbas, who is outside the territory, to return home immediately to help put an end to the bloodshed.

The Arab League has condemned the fighting as "irrational and unacceptable" and Alvaro de Soto, the UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, called on all parties "to cease clashes". Agencies

KavkazCenter, January 29 - US occupation force and Shia puppet formation forces claim to have killed more than 250 Mujahidden in a battle involving tanks and helicopters on the outskirts of the Shia city of Najaf.

The US military said a helicopter has been shot down in the fighting, resulting in the death of two troops on board. An puppet Shia military commander said the day-long battle was continuing.

Assad Abu Gilel, the puppet "governor" of Najaf province, said US occupation troops and Shia puppet formation fought a day-long battle with up to 1000 Mujahiddeen, including "foreign fighters", holed up in orchards on the northern outskirts of the city.

According to one Iraqi collaboration "political source", hundreds of fighters drawn from both Sunni and Shia communities were still fighting.

A Reuters reporter at the scene, 160km south of Baghdad, saw US tanks and heard blasts after dark and an Iraqi officer said F-16 jets were bombing the area.

Details of the day's fighting were sketchy. A puppet Shia formation source said some of the dead wore headbands declaring themselves a "Soldier of Heaven".

Abu Gilel said that the authorities had uncovered a plot to kill some Shia clerics on Monday, to coincide with the climax of Ashura, the Shia "holy festival".

"There is a conspiracy to kill the clergy on the 10th day of Muharram," Abu Gilel asserted.

Earlier on Sunday, five schoolgirls were killed and another 15 injured when a school in Baghdad came under mortar attack in Sunni areas.

In Baghdad, at least 15 people were killed in bombings in mainly Shia areas, puppet Shia "police" said.

Two car bombs targeting ethnic Kurds killed 16 people in the northern oil city of Kirkuk.

In a videotape sent to Al Jazeera, the Council of Shura al-Mujahideen group said it has destroyed a US tank by a roadside explosive device in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

In another videotape, the Jaish al-Mujahideen group said that it has destroyed a US military vehicle in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra. Agencies

AlJazeera.net, January 27 - Saudi Arabia's king has said Iran is putting the Gulf region in danger and has advised Tehran leaders to know "their limits".

In an interview published in Kuwait's al-Seyassah newspaper on Saturday, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud said attempts by Iran to spread Shia beliefs in Sunni communities would fail. (Picture left - Larijani, right, visited Riyadh this month to reassure Saudi Arabia over Iran's nuclear programme -AFP).

King Abdullah said: "Saudi leaders and the Saudi state have always known their limits in dealing with nations, east and west. I explained this to Ali Larijani [Iran's nuclear negotiator] and advised him to pass it on to his government and its followers, with regard to foreign dealings."

King Abdullah also said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be solved by "Arabs alone".

"We don't want anyone to trade in our issues and become stronger through them," he said.

Larijani visited Riyadh this month to seek help with Washington and reassure Saudi Arabia over Iran's nuclear programme.

The US, which sees Saudi Arabia as an important ally in the region, has accused Iran of intending to make a nuclear weapon. A charge Iran denies.

The US also says Iran is "interfering" in Iraq by backing Shia military groups in the country and criticises Tehran for backing Lebanon's Hezbollah, a Shia group which is leading a move to topple Lebanon's government.

Iran is known to support Hamas, the ruling Palestinian party and a largely Sunni organisation.

Hamas has refused to recognise Israel and has been shunned by Western governments. Agencies

WASHINGTON, January 27 - Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters rallied at the National Mall, marched to the Capitol and sent a unified message to their newly elected lawmakers Saturday: "Bring our troops home."

Although the throng appeared to fall short of the overwhelming turnout sought by rally organizers, it did draw out actress Jane Fonda, who said she hadn't attended an anti-war rally in 34 years. Fonda said she had worried that her words would hurt the effort to end the war.

"But silence is no longer an option," said Fonda, who waged a highly controversial campaign against the Vietnam War.

The rally was organized by United for Peace and Justice, which aimed to bring protesters from 30 states across the country. Simultaneously, anti-war rallies were staged at scores of other U.S. cities.

High-profile speakers such as Fonda, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and actors Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon called for an end to the war. Also taking the stage were war veterans and members of Congress, including Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Lynn Woolsey of California, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and John Conyers of Michigan.

On Monday, hundreds are expected to remain in Washington to blitz Capitol Hill, lobbying their representatives in Congress during a week in which the Senate is scheduled to take up a resolution rejecting President Bush's decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

Iraq war veterans are also scheduled to begin a two-day, seven-state tour Monday, targeting senators who voted against the resolution passed last week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Many of the speakers Saturday wanted Congress to do far more than pass a resolution of displeasure.

Kucinich, who plans to run for president again in 2008, said it's time for Congress not only to cut off funding for the war and bring the troops home, but to close all bases in Iraq.

Moriah Arnold, a 12-year-old sixth grader from Harvard, Mass., said Bush and other leaders lied to Americans when the country went to war in Iraq.

"We want to end the war now," said Arnold, who started a petition drive at her school.

Raed Jarrar, Iraq project director at Global Exchange, said the only way to stop Iraqi violence is to withdraw U.S. troops.

"We want this occupation to end now," said Jarrar, an Iraqi. "We know how to run our country by ourselves."

In the crowd, a protester dressed as the grim reaper held a sign: "Death thanks George Bush for all the overtime."

David Bednarczuk, 56, said he traveled for 24 hours from Minnesota to hold Congress accountable.

"We put them in office to deal with the war," he said. "If this Bush isn't going to listen to the people, then this Congress is going to have to make him listen."

Eighteen-year-old Megan Lytle of Maine said she hoped her voice, combined with thousands of others, would make a difference and that lawmakers would listen.

"If the people rise up, the government can't stand up against us," she said.Mercury News

Moora News, January 26 - Australia's outgoing ambassador says his country's relations with Malaysia have improved since Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad quit because his successor is not preoccupied with bickering over whether Australia is Asian.

Mahathir, who stepped down in October 2003 after 22 years in office, often described Australia as racist and rejected Canberra's attempts to engage South-East Asia.

He also ridiculed Australian Prime Minister John Howard for his close ties to the United States, and said Australia cannot be part of Asia because of its Anglo-Saxon population and heritage.

"Dr Mahathir never understood Australia, and perhaps Australians never understood him," outgoing High Commissioner James Wise said in an opinion piece published in the New Straits Times.

"In the past, many Australian business people concluded that poor political relations might get in the way of Australian business in Malaysia, so they didn't invest here."

Wise said Mahathir's successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is an improvement because he isn't "preoccupied with worn out and ultimately futile debates about whether Australia is an Asian country".

Relations between the two countries have progressed, he said, citing Australia's position as the second largest investor in Malaysia in the first three quarters of 2006.

"It's a very positive picture and the free trade agreement being negotiated should encourage even more Australian investors to come here," Wise wrote.

The negotiations, which began in 2005, have reached a fourth round, Wise said.

"The negotiators are working hard, but they have a way to go yet on some tough issues," he said, adding that the services sector had the greatest potential for growth.

Australia is Malaysia's seventh-largest export market and its 12th largest import source. AP

RAUB, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on Batu Talam residents who will go to the polls Sunday to understand the purpose of the by-election.

"It's important for the voters to know the purpose of holding the by-election. The purpose is to elect a representative for the interest of people in the Batu Talam constituency; that's the main thing," he said Saturday.

"In this regard, we have recommended Abd Aziz Mat Kiram as candidate of the state and federal Barisan Nasional.

"When the representative is from Barisan Nasional (BN), the state and federal government cooperation will be smoother and the people will get greater benefits," said Najib who is Umno deputy president.

In the by-election, the BN candidate is facing independent Ng Chee Pang. It is being held following the death of assemblyman Tengku Datuk Paris Tengku Razlan on Dec 27 last year.

On the BN target of winning with a big majority, Najib said a big majority would only become a reality if the percentage of voters turning up was high and it was hoped that 80 per cent of voters would cast their votes.

"So, Barisan Nasional will win big. If less than that, we will also win, Insya-Allah, but the majority is reduced," he said.

In the last general election, the BN won with a majority of 2,761 votes.

On efforts to ensure voters would turn up to vote, Najib said: "We will ensure all go out to vote. If they haven't, we will go to their houses. We will mobilise the machinery all-out until the last moment, that's the Barisan Nasional instruction," he said.

Earlier, he attended the presentation of offer letters for the sale of houses in the Jalan Tersang people's housing project.

AlJazeera.net, January 29 - Hamas has accused Fatah, the Palestinian president's movement, of mounting a plot to overthrow the Hamas-led government and vowed to avenge its members killed in factional fighting.

Referring to unity talks, Ayman Taha also said on Saturday: "As long as the leaders of the coup within Fatah are continuing the killings, there can be no dialogue."

But Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a Fatah spokesman, blamed Hamas for starting the latest round of fighting. "We in Fatah did not stop the dialogue," he said, referring to talks on a national unity government.

At least 48 Palestinians have been killed since Abbas called for new elections last month.

Talking to the fighters - Laila El-Haddad interviews members of armed groups allied to Hamas and to Fatah to discover why they do what they do - read An eye for an eye in Gaza

University clashes

The streets of GazaCity were empty on Saturday after the previous day's fighting and shops and markets remained closed.

But Fatah and Hamas clashed again near the Islamic University, killing at least two in some of the fiercest fighting since Hamas's election victory a year ago.

One of the dead was believed to be a university student who was caught in the crossfire, witnesses said. Several people were also injured in the clash.

A member of the Hamas-led police force died of his wounds overnight, hospital officials said, bringing the toll from Friday's factional fighting to 18.

Overnight raid

Hamas mounted an overnight raid on the Gaza headquarters of the Preventive Security Service, a force dominated by Fatah members. Hamas attacked the compound with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades but no injuries were reported.

Grenades were also fired at the home of Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist in charge of internal security in the Palestinian Authority. It was unclear whether Shbak was home at the time, but no injuries were reported.

Fighting also took place outside the home Abbas, and the home of Mahmoud Zahar, the Hamas foreign minister. Hamas officials said Zahar's home was damaged by two rocket-propelled grenades.

Hamas has said any new elections would amount to a coup. It has struggled to govern since taking office in March under the weight of sanctions imposed because of its refusal to recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by interim peace deals.

Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, the leader of Hamas, pledged a week ago to curb Palestinian bloodshed after inconclusive talks to end their power struggle and form a unity government.

Abbas, currently in Madrid, has said he will push ahead with his plan to call early elections if coalition negotiations fail within two to three weeks.

Hamas marked the anniversary of its election victory over Fatah on Friday, but celebrations were scaled down because of the violence and some rallies were moved or cancelled. Agencies

PM Urges Batu Talam Voters To Turn Out In Full Force On SundayFrom Yong Soo Heong

DAVOS, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Friday urged voters in the Batu Talam state constituency to come out in full force and vote on Sunday to choose their representative in the PahangState assembly.

He said that the by-election was called because the government did not want the people there to be without a representative after their previous state assemblyman died.

"As soon as the by-election for the seat is over on Sunday, they will have a state assemblyman to champion their interests," he told Malaysian journalists covering his participation in the World Economic Forum here.

Abdullah also hoped that the voters there would support the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate again just as they did in the 2004 general election.

"Of course I wish for the BN candidate to retain the Batu Talam seat," he added.